Gutter system and flexible guard means therefor



H. G. OLSON 3,295,264

GUTTER SYSTEM AND FLEXIBLE GUARD MEANS THEREFOR Jan. 3, 1967 Filed May 15. 1964 INVENTOR.

HAROLD G. OLSDN 6M gdwau ATTOR NEYS Unite States Patent 3,295,264 GUTTER SYSTEM AND FLEXIBLE GUARD MEANS THEREFOR Harold G. Olson, Burrits Landing, Westport, Conn. 06880 Filed May 15, 1964, Ser. No. 367,795 Claims. (Cl. 52-12) This invention relates to a roof gutter incorporating a gutter guard or overlay for excluding twigs, leaves and other such debris from the gutter. It deals more particularly with a gutter guard operating in this manner.

Wind and rain have an annoying propensity for transporting twigs, pine needles and other organic debris into the gutters and drain troughs extending around the eaves of houses. Such debris not only clogs the drains and downspouts, but also collects at the bottom of the gutters, forming an organic mat there which harbors moisture, insects and promotes rotting and deterioration of the gutters.

A number of gutter guards have been designed to alleviate this problem. These have usually consisted of screens, perforated covers and the like. All have succeeded to a greater or lesser extent in keeping such debris from the gutters; all have had attendant drawbacks which have materially limited their use. Thus, prior gutter guards have had to be matched specifically to the gutter to be covered. Also they are constructed of relatively stiff material and so have to be shipped and installed in relatively long sections which, of course, increase their cost to the consumer. In addition, they require various brackets, hinges, pins, etc. to secure them to the save or gutter. Once installed, they do not afford easy access to thegutter for routine maintenance purposes.

Accordingly, a principal object of this invention is to provide roof gutter structure relatively incapable of being clogged by debris.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gutter guard which is easily installed by the average homeowner without any special tools or fittings.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gutter guard of the above type, which, after installation, permits ready access to any selected length portion of the gutter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gutter guard which can easily be rolled up and sent through the mails directly to the homeowner or which can be dispensed in any desired length from a continuous roll supply.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a gutter guard of the above type which does not sag in use, but remains taut across the top of the gutter, thus facilitating the natural removal by the wind of leaves and twigs deposited on the top of the guard.

Another more specific object of this invention is to provide a gutter guard which is inexpensive to procure and install, yet resistant tosun and weather.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the ac companying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of my gutter guard as it is being unrolled prior to its installation;

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FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a roof gutter incorporating the gutter guard of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a roof gutter incorporating a second embodiment of my invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of a third embodiment of my invention.

In general, my invention comprises an elongated strip of flexible material having a multiplicity of drainage openings along its length. One long edge of the strip is weighted; the other long edge is unweighted. The unweighted strip edge is adapted to be secured at the side of the gutter adjacent the roof. The weighted strip edge hangs down from the front edge of the gutter, holding the strip taut across the top of the gutter.

FIG. 1 shows the gutter guard, indicated generally at 10, as it is being drawn from a roll 12 in preparation for installation on a roof gutter. The length dispensed from roll 12 will, of course, correspond to the length of the gutter to be protected.

The gutter guard 10 comprises a continuous, elongated strip 14 of light, flexible, weather resistant sheet or web material. The strip material should be light but strong, and also thin and flexible enough to be rolled up into a compact package. Examples of material suitable for use in this invention are Fibreglas, nylon, vinyl resins, and other plastics.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strip 14 is divided into two longitudinal sections or zones. There is a netted or perforated section 16 extending from one longitudinal edge 18 to a line 20 located a substantial distance across the width of the strip and extending lengthwise along the strip. There is also an unnetted or unperforated lengthwise strip section 24 or zone between the line 20 and the other longitudinal edge 22 of strip 14. The section 24 can be formed easily by heat sealing a solid film over a lengthwise portion of the netted area of strip 14.

Under this invention, the longitudinal strip edge 18 is weighted adjacent to netted section 16. More particularly, a relatively heavy cord 26 is attached to strip 14 adjacent its edge 18. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cord 26 is secured to strip 14 by interlacting it with the transverse portions 28 of the netted section 16. The cord 26 is constructed to be quite flexible so that it can be rolled up along with strip 14. For example, cord 26 may consist of a relatively heavy, but rather limp, extruded vinyl plastic.

FIG. 2 shows a typical gutter installation employing my invention. A gutter 30 is secured along the edge of a roof 32 covered by the usual shingles 34. A sufiicient length of gutter guard 14) is served from roll 12 to extend the full length of the gutter 30. During the installation of the gutter guard, the roofing shingles 34 adjaoent gutter 30 are-lifted up, and the unweighted longitudinal strip edge 22 and unperforated strip section 24 are slid under those shingles. The width of strip 14 is such that when the netted section 16 is stretched out across the top of gutter 30, the weighted strip edge 18 lays over and hangs a short distance down from the front edge 36 of gutter 39.

Once the strip 14 is properly positioned, the section 24 thereof underlying the shingles 34 can be secured to roof 32 by means of nails 38, staples or other such securing rneans distributed along the length of the strip.

The unperforated section 24 of the strip 14 facilitates securing the gutter guard to the roof 32 in that it provides a large area over which nails 38 can be driven into the roof. Actually, if staples are used as the securing means, the strip 14 need not contain the unperforated section 24, since the staples can bridge the individual netted strands of strip 14 and secure them to the roof 32.

After the nails 38 are in place, the shingles 34 will lie down flat against the roof as usual thereby covering up the nails 38. If the nails 38 have to be driven through the shingles 34, their exposed tops can be waterproofed by conventional roofing compound.

When the gutter guard is properly installed, the weighted cord 26 hangs down under gravity in front of the gutter edge 36. This pulls the strip 14 taut across the top of the gutter 30 so that the gutter guard 10 spans the gutter and has substantially no sags or pockets that would end to collect debris. Thus :a leaf 40 falling on the gutter guard 10 is supported thereby. Air is free to flow above and below the leaf 40 so that the leaf, if wet initially, will tend to dry quickly and be carried away by the wind. Air is free to circulate also all along the interior bottom and side walls of gutter 30, obviating the likelihood of damp rot or decay occuring within the gutter.

FIG 3 shows the same gutter 36 incorporating a modified form of gutter guard indicated generally at 43. Gutter guard 42 is similar in all respects to gutter guard 10 except that its front edge 44 is weighted by means of a relatively heavy vinyl bead 46 extruded directly onto the edge 44.

FIG. 3 also illustrates the ease with which access can be obtained to any selected length portion 36a of gutter 30, for oiling, painting or other maintenance. The weighted edge 44 of the gutter guard 42 is simply lifted up at point 48 and folded back until it rests on the shingles 34. When the maintenance work is done, the weighted edge 44 is laid back across the front edge 36 of the gutter 30 and the gutter guard 42 again becomes taut across the entire width and length of the gutter 30.

FIG. 4 shows a further modified form of my invention wherein the gutter guard comprises a flexible plastic strip 50 having a multiplicity of drainage apertures in the form of perforations 52 along its length and width. The size of the apertures 52 is selected to provide sufiicien-t ventilation through the gutter guard without unduly weakening the strip 50. A flexible bead 56 is attached to the front edge 54 of strip 50. For added weight, the bead 56 has lead pellets or shot 58 embedded in it and distributed along its length.

These same pellets 58 can, of course, also be inserted or embedded in the interlacing cord 26 described in connection with the FIGS. 1 and 3 embodiments of my invention to give cord 26 and bead 46 added weight. It is important to note in this connection that even when the cord and bead are filled with lead pellets, my gutter guard can still be rolled up compactly and then easily dispensed from a roll. 1

Other weight means are contemplated under this invention, such as heavy staples and individual weights attached to and hanging from edge 18.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a gutter guard which is simple and easy to manufacture and distribute to the ultimate consumer. It may be obtained by the homeowner through the mails in a compact package or served from a roll supply. In both cases, only the exact length required need be purchased. The gutter guard is easily installed without special tools and once installed can be expected to serve its purpose indefinitely since it is substantially unaffected by wind and weather. The guard also permits easy access to the gutters for inspection and maintenance without requiring manipulation of screws, catches, hooks or other latching means that tend to bind in time.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is alsoto be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. A gutter guard for serving from a roll supply and protectively covering a roof gutter having a rear longitudinal edge proximate to a shingled roof and a front longitudinal edge distal from said roof, said guard comprising an elongated strip of lightweight, flexible material, said strip having a multiplicity of perforations along its length and extending from a first longitudinal edge thereof partway across the width of said strip, said strip also having an unperforated zone adjacent its other longitudinal edge, said 'unperforated strip zone being slid under roof shingles adjacent the gutter and secured to said roof, weight means secured along said first strip edge, the width of said perforated portion of said strip being related to the width of the gutter such that said first strip edge lays out over and hangs down under gravity from said front edge of the gutter and holds said strip taut across the top of the gutter all along its length.

2. A gutter guard as defined in claim 1 wherein said weight means comprises a relatively heavy, flexible bead interlaced through said mesh material along said longitudinal edge of said strip.

3. A gutter guard as defined in claim 1 wherein said weight means comprises a relatively heavy bead extruded With said longitudinal edge of said strip.

4. A gutter guard as defined in claim 1 wherein said weight means comprises a flexible member attached to said longitudinal edge of said strip, said flexible member having weighted pellets contained therein and distributed along the length thereof.

5. A gutter system comprising a gutter having a rear longitudinal edge secured adjacent a shingled roof and a front longitudinal edge spaced from said roof the combination therewith of a strip of light-weight, flexible pliant plastic, mesh material for being dispensed from a roll supply, said material having a multiplicity of perforations large enough to permit free passage of water through said material, but small enough to bar leaves,

sticks and other debris, one longitudinal edge of said strip being secured under the roof shingles adjacent said gutter, the other longitudinal edge of said strip being weighted, the width of said strip being somewhat wider than the width of said gutter such that said other weighted strip edge lays out over and hangs down under gravity from the front edge of said gutter, selected portions of said other edge of said strip being adapted to be lifted up and folded back on said roof for obtaining access to selected underlying portions of said gutter without disturbing the remainder of said strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,402 2/1905 Darby l60237 1,112,940 10/1914 Spivak 237 1,298,550 3/1919 Newell.

2,219,953 10/1940 Fry 52-12 2,474,552 6/ 1949 Steinmeyer 160349 X 2,734,467 2/1956 Steele 5212 2,988,226 6/1961 Campbell 210-474 3,023,544- 3/1962 Hughes 5212 3,053,393 9/1962 McLean 5212 X 3,107,361 10/1963 Glutting 160-349 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GUTTER GUARD FOR SERVING FROM A ROLL SUPPLY AND PROTECTIVELY COVERING A ROOF GUTTER HAVING A REAR LONGITUDINAL EDGE PROXIMATE TO A SHINGLED ROOF AND A FRONT LONGITUDINAL EDGE DISTAL FROM SAID ROOF, SAID GUARD COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF LIGHTWEIGHT, FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, SAID STRIP HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF PERFORATIONS ALONG ITS LENGTH AND EXTENDING FROM A FIRST LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF PARTWAY ACROSS THE WIDTH OF SAID STRIP, SAID STRIP ALSO HAVING AN UNPERFORATED ZONE ADJACENT ITS OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGE, SAID UNPERFORATED STRIP ZONE BEING SLID UNDER ROOF SHINGLES ADJACENT THE GUTTER AND SECURED TO SAID ROOF, WEIGHT MEANS SECURED ALONG SAID FIRST STRIP EDGE, THE WIDTH OF SAID PERFORATED PORTION OF SAID STRIP BEING RELATED TO THE WIDTH OF THE GUTTER SUCH THAT SAID FIRST STRIP EDGE LAYS OUT OVER AND HANGS DOWN UNDER GRAVITY FROM SAID FRONT EDGE OF THE GUTTER AND HOLDS SAID STRIP TAUT ACROSS THE TOP OF THE GUTTER ALL ALONG ITS LENGTH. 